to not really get Paris

[JapanNextYear]

I have had some lovely holidays in France, the food, the wine etc. And I have a huge fondness for being in a capital city.

But I just don't really get Paris. I've been to the touristy bits and the not touristy bits, but I find it all a bit cold and distant and its hard to get a decent meal or have a nice drink.

What am I doing wrong?

The only bit I like is Montmartre, the rest I found boring and expensive. Give me Amsterdam or London over Paris any time.

I have never got Paris. It always seems like London but with more traffic.

I'm more of a Rome gal.

I do like Paris though.

Oh paris is one of my two favourite places.....

I just enjoy the hum, the vibe. Wandering around and getting lost (spectacularly lost for 3 hours on one occasion)

But I've visited a couple of times a year for a few years now so I know it. I know where the best crepe stand is, and the best bar (Rebel bar, for if you want a good drink, excellent music and amazing vibe)

Sitting outside the louvre in summer by the pyramids, with a bagel and cheese just watching people...bliss. I love it.

So yes YABU.

Dp and I both hated it, London, Amsterdam and Barcelona are much more preferable.

I love Paris - wandering down the Champs Elysee to the Tuilerie Gardens, it is a place of such history, it is fascinating and beautiful and Parisians are scarily stylish. Love it.

I hate it, it's dirty and unfriendly, it's the only city that me or the other women I've been with, have been sexually harassed to an extent that we actually felt scared, because those around us, just ignored it.

The aggression and verbal abuse, just because we weren't sexually available, or behaving like 'good little women' was an eye opener.

I've been in parts of Africa and felt safer.

Of course YANBU. And I know what you mean, too. For me, Paris is about the actual 'sights', mainly the art, and not about the vibe or the fun times.

Sitting outside the louvre in summer by the pyramids, with a bagel and cheese just watching people

Bagel? You do realise that is an offence?

Hate it, dirty, badly designed, parisians are generally rude, bigoted and anti tourist, expensive. Been twice never again!

Much prefer Amsterdam, Berlin, Rome, Milan, London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Barcelona.

The armed guards freaked me out, but I do like it. It's not as spectacular as films would have us believe though. Montmartre was my favourite bit but its grown more touristy and that's something I hate.

I loved Berlin more. I like a city with a bit of grit!

London is my home, I could never view it with anything but fondness and love.

I found it to be a dirty, smelly city. I had to hold my breath on the underground ( metro?). I can't put up with London for more than 1 day. Maybe I'm just not a city person.

YANBU. It's last on the list of places I've been and I doubt I'll ever go back.

I could never like it after seeing a black guy ordered to the end of a queue at a snack van, with the rest of the queue nodding in approval.

Strangely appropriate one of their tourist attractions is (was ?) L'égouts

Oh God, I really love it I only went for the first time about 6 years ago maybe and have been back 5 times or so. Its what we save our pennies for/do overtime shifts for. I'm not sure why I love it so much but it was definitely love at first sight. We don't do much - just mooch about the Luxembourg gardens and eat.

I got pick pocketed

God I love Paris! Went for the first time with two friends when we were 16, and find something different and wonderful every time.

much prefer ... Glasgow ...

Somewhere in Paris, a tourism exec is weeping into his vin...

I'm weeping with him. And I've lived in Glasgow!

Iamahologram

I love Glasgow (a bit) but it's not Paris...

I love to travel and sightsee and I love cities but I've never been to Paris, I've never had any desire to visit there. My husband's suggested it several times for a quick weekend away but nothing grabs me about the place.

Ha ha I love Glasgow too I live here, but its not Paris, personally I think Paris is one of the most if not the most beautiful cities in the world and the Parisians are friendly ! not so friendly locals in Barcelona and lots of dodgy areas when you are flat hunting . I ( sorry ) have never liked London either. but Paris is amazing.

I got engaged in Paris. We ate a lot of cheese ham and bread! It was hard to know where to eat and was expensive. Stood in a queue for the Louvre for ages then gave up. But we were young and in love so everything was amazing.
The night we got engaged we went for champagne and I ventured to the loo. Came back looking green and told dh I'd just been in the world's worst toilet. He had to see for himself. We left the bar after he'd witnessed the shit covered squat toilet! The bar itself was really nice God knows why the loo was do awful!!!

It can be the same in NYC, a great bar can have a really dingy toilet.